EUGENE, Ore. -  Gracie Hamilton kicked off her senior weekend in a big way on Friday afternoon with a a walk-off three-run homer lifting Bushnell to a 13-11 victory over The College of Idaho in the Cascade Collegiate Conference series opener at Rich Schwab Field.
 
The win for the Beacons broke an 11-game losing streak and gave them their first win over the College of Idaho since 2018. The Yotes took the split as they won 4-0 in the night cap.  
 
GAME ONE: Bushnell 13, College of Idaho 11
 
The Yotes got off to the hot start in the opener, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a three-run third.
 
Bushnell began to slowly chip away from their, scoring two in the bottom of the third on a Brenna Wilson double and Makenzie Alexander sacrifice fly, and then taking the lead in the fourth as two runs scored on a throwing error.
 
The Beacons added three more runs in the fifth, as Maddy Fullenwider hit a pinch hit RBI double before run-scoring singles from Ashlyn Martin and Hamilton. Another two runs would come across in the bottom of the sixth and Bushnell took a 10-4 lead into the seventh.
 
The Yotes, however, down to their final out, exploded for seven runs on eight hits, taking an 11-10 lead as it appeared Bushnell's hopes of ending a 24-game losing streak to CI would be for naught.
 
The Beacons went on to make quick work of the final comeback as Mead and Martin reached with singles before Hamilton's bomb that just cleared the left field fence for the victory.
 
Hamilton finished the game hitting 3-for-4 with four RBI and Martin also posted a three-hit game.
 
Sara Martin got the victory, going five innings in relief and allowing just five earned runs. Outside of the rough seventh, she scattered just two hits.
 
GAME TWO: College of Idaho 4, Bushnell 0
 
Drew Williams (13-6), who took the loss in the opener, more than made up for in the game two as she threw a complete game shutout of the Beacons, striking out three and allowing just four singles in the contest.
 
Mead proved to be the Beacons best weapon, hitting 2-for-3 to complete a four-hit day at the plate.
 
Martin (4-13) took the loss for the Beacons despite throwing a complete game giving up three earned runs on seven hits. The game had been scoreless until the Yotes put up a three-spot in the fifth.
 
UP NEXT: Bushnell (6-29, 3-17 CCC) will close out their final homestand on Saturday with two more against The College of Idaho (26-16, 10-10) beginning at 11:00 am. Bushnell will honor their eight seniors between the games.